Pluggable socket connector

ABSTRACT

A circuit board socket connector having a longitudinal seam with antispreading fingers on both sides of the seam extending across the seam and into close proximity with the outside part of the socket across the seam. The fingers limit spreading of the seam when a lead is inserted into the socket.

United States Patent Robert M. Matrisian Inventor Lemoyne, Pa. Appl. No.39,042 Filed May 20, 1970 Patented Dec. 28, 1971 Assignee BergElectronics, Inc.

New Cumberland, Pa.

PLUGGABLE SOCKET CONNECTOR 12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 339/17 C, 174/68.5, 287/111 R, 317/101 CC, 339/17 R, 339/256 Rint. Cl "05k 1/02 Field of Search 339/17 R,

17 C, 220, 217, 216,219,256 R;174/68.5; 317/101 C, 101 CC, 101D;287/ll0, 111, 52,126

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1938 Frederick 339/210 T3,028,182 4/1962 287/52 R 3,484,141 12/1969 287/111 2,711,524 6/1955339/256 R 3,369,212 2/1968 Coldren et a1. 339/32 R 2,814,024 11/1957Narozny 339/193 R 2,603,681 7/1952 Salisbury. 339/17 D 3,222,632 12/1965Fuller 339/17 R X FOREIGN PATENTS 604,880 7/1948 Great Britain 339/258Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Terrell P. LewisAttorney-Thomas Hooker ABSTRACT: A circuit board socket connector havinga longitudinal seam with antispreading fingers on both sides of the seamextending across the seam and into close proximity with the outside partof the socket across the seam. The fingers limit spreading of the seamwhen a lead is inserted into the socket.

PLUGGABLE SOCKET CONNECTOR The invention relates to a plug-typedisconnect socket connector for mounting on a circuit board with asolder connection between the socket and printed circuitry on the board.The socket is rolled from sheet metal stock and includes an elongatesocket body with a longitudinal seam extending along one side of thebody. Fingers extend from the body on each side of the seam across theseam and into close engagement with the outside of the body on theopposite side of the seam. When a contact lead is inserted into thesocket body, it engages the portions of the socket to either side of theseam to form electrical connections therewith. The fingers limit openingof the seam during insertion of the lead so that the lead is confinedwithin the socket. The fingers also serve to increase the contactpressure between the socket and large diameter leads.

A generally conical solder plug is provided at one end of the disconnectsocket body. The seam which runs along the socket extends along theplug. A cylindrical plastic solder stop is confined in the end of theplug adjacent the socket body to prevent solder which during solderdipping flows into the interior of the plug through the seam fromseeping into the socket.

The pluggable socket connector represents an improvement overconventional circuit board sockets, such as disclosed in US. Pat. No.3,268,851 in that the antispreading fingers assure that the socket isnot permanently deformed during insertion of the lead. Also, the socketprovides improved high-pressure line contact electrical connections withlead, as opposed to the point contact connections of conventionalcircuit board connections. The connector is inexpensively and easilymanufactured from strip metal stock and plastic tubing.

Other object and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings illustrating the invention, of which there is onesheet.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view taken through a circuit boardillustrating a pluggable socket connector;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a pluggable socket connector taken alongline 33 of FIG. 1 before the connector is soldered to a circuit boardand a lead has been inserted;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view like FIG. 2 but before a lead has beeninserted into the connector; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a blank from which the connector maybe formed.

Pluggable socket connector l may be formed from blanked part 12 of FIG.and a cylindrical Teflon solder stop 14. The connector includes agenerally conical solder plug 16 which is rolled from portion 18 ofblank 12 and a disconnect socket 20 which is rolled from socket portion22 of blank 12. The Teflon cylinder 14 is confined in the end of plug 16adjacent socket 20 during the rolling operation.

Disconnect socket 20 is provided with annular collars 24 and 26 at theends thereof. Collar 24 is funnel-shaped to facilitate insertion of alead into a socket. The collars 24 and 26 are joined together by threelongitudinally extending strips 28, and 32. Strips 28 and 30 are spacedapart by slit 34 and strips 30 and 32 are spread apart by slit 36. Theslits are formed during rolling of blank 12 from cutouts or slits 38 and40 of blank portion 22. Collar 24 is formed from blank strip 42 andcollar 26 is formed from blank strip 44. In the blank, strips 42 and 44are joined together by strips or rungs 28, 30 and 32.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, a cross section of socket 20 takenthrough strips 28, 30 and 32 is generally triangular in shape with thestrips defining the sides of a triangle and slits 34 and 36 and seam 46defining the corners of the triangle. By utilizing a triangular crosssection, a line contact is formed between each of the strips and a leadinserted into the socket.

Longitudinally extending seam 46 extends along the body of connector 10.In socket 20 the seam is defined by the side edges 48 and 50 of strips28 and 32. The seam extends along the solder plug 16 and is defined byabutting edges 52 and 54 of blank portions 18. In the socket 20, edges48 and 50 are spaced slightly so that the seam is open.

Fingers 56 and 58 extend from edges 48 and 50 of strips 32 and 28respectively across seam 46 and into close proximity with the outside ofthe strip on the opposite side of the seam. This relationship is bestillustrated in FIG. 4. Fingers 56 and 58 are longitudinally spaced alongseam 46. Plug portion 18 of blank 12 is generally trapezoidal in shapewith the major base of the trapezoid adjoining strip 44. The minor baseof the trapezoid compresses a pair of convex arcs 60 which, when theconnector is rolled from blank 12, form the rounded end 62 of plug 16.

During the rolling operation, the Teflon cylinder 14 is positioned inthe plug adjacent socket portion 20. Annular groove 64 is formed in theoutside of the plug so that the cylinder 14 is stressed to an hourglassconfiguration and a tight solder-resistant compression seal is formed atthe interface 66 between the Teflon cylinder and the inner surface ofthe plug.

The plug of connector 10 is inserted into hole 68 formed through thethickness of the circuit board 70 so that the lower end of plug 16extends below the circuit board. The circuit board may then be wavesoldered to form a solder connection 72 between the connector andprinted circuitry 74 on the circuit board. During soldering a mass ofsolder 76 seeps into the interior of the plug 16 through the lowerportion of seam 46. The Teflon cylinder 14 prevents the solder 76 in theinterior of the plug from flowing up the connector 10 and into thedisconnect socket 20. In this way the formation of the solder connectionbetween the plug and the circuit board does not afiect the use of thedisconnect socket.

While the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein utilizes acylindrical piece of Teflon plastic to prevent solder from flowing intothe socket of the connector, other means may be utilized to prevent theflow of solder into the socket.

With a pluggable socket connector 10 secured to circuit board 70 inelectrical connection with printed circuitry 74, a disconnect lead 78may be inserted into the disconnect socket portion 20 in order to forman electrical connection with the connector 10. During insertion,lead-in 24 guides the lead into the socket. When the lead is fullyinserted, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the end 80 of the lead engages theTeflon cylinder I4 which forms a stop. Insertion of the lead into hesocket brings the lead into engagement with strips 28, 30 and 32 so asto form a longitudinally extending line contact 80 with each strip.Contacts 80 extend along the strips 28, 30 and 32. As the lead isinserted, strips 28 and 32 are pivoted in the direction of arrows 82 and84 relative to strip 30, as illustrated by comparing FIGS. 2 and 4 ofthe drawings, so as to form the electrical connections and open seam 46.Fingers 56 and 58 lie in pivot paths of the strips 28 and 32. Theconnections between strips 28 and 32 and strip 30 at collars 24 and 26are deformed during insertion of lead 78 to provide spring contactpressure between the strips 28, 30 and 32 and lead 78.

Fingers 56 and 58 extend across seam 46 and limit opening of the seamduring insertion of the lead to assure that the lead is properlyinserted within the socket. If the lead 78 moves strips 28 and 32sufficiently to engage the fingers 56 and 58 as shown in FIG. 2, thefingers back up the strips and prevent further opening of seam 46. Inthis way the fingers increase the contact pressure between the lead 78and the contact strips 28, 30 and 32. Finger 56 limits movement of strip28 outwardly of the socket 20 and finger 58 limits movement of strip 32outwardly from the socket. The two fingers cooperate to limit opening ofthe seam and back up the contact strips 28 and 30. The fingers alsoprevent the lead 76 from being pulled laterally out of the connector. Iffingers were not provided, lateral movement of the lead would tend toopen the seam 46 and permit the lead to be moved laterally from thesocket. During insertion of the lead, the fingers prevent the end 80from opening seam 46. The slits 34 and 36 provided between the strips 28and 30 and 30 and 32 facilitate the described movement of strips 28 and32 outwardly of the socket during insertion of lead 78.

While the pluggable socket connector disclosed herein utilizes a solderplug 16 for establishing an electrical connection with a circuitelement, in this case printed circuitry 74, it is obvious that thesocket 20 may be provided with other types of electrical contacts and itis not intended that my invention be limited to a connector with asolder plug.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims.

Whatl claim as my invention is:

l. A disconnect socket comprising an elongate hollow socket body havinga longitudinally extending seam on one side thereof, a pair of fingersspaced along the seam, each finger extending from said body at one sideof the seam, past the seam and into spaced overlapping proximity withthe outer surface of the body at the opposite side of the seam, a leadcontact on the inner surface of the body at each side of the seamadjacent the fingers, and electrical contact means on one end of saidbody, whereby the fingers limit opening of the seam upon insertion of alead into the socket for engagement with said lead contacts.

2. A disconnect socket as in claim 1 including a funnel-type lead-in atthe other end of said body and wherein said electrical contact meanscomprises a circuit board solder plug.

3. A disconnect socket as in claim 1 wherein said body is triangular incross section and longitudinal slits extend along two comers of thebody, said seam extending along the third comer of the body, and theportions of said body at the ends of said slits join together portionsof the body at the sides of said slits.

4. A disconnect socket comprising an elongate hollow body of generallytriangular cross section having a seam extending along one comerthereof, the body including a pair of spaced circumferential collars anda strip at each side of the seam extending between said collars, saidstrips each including a lead engaging contact on the side thereof facingthe interior of the body, a finger projecting from the edge of each ofsaid strips adjacent said seam and past the seam and into spacedoverlapping proximity with the outer side of the strip across said seam,and electrical contact means for forming an electrical connectionbetween said socket and a circuit element.

5. A disconnect socket as in claim 4 wherein all of said strips aregenerally flat and slots extend along the corners to either side of thestrip opposite the seam.

6. A disconnect socket as in claim 5 wherein said electrical contactmeans comprises a solder plug at one end of said body.

7. A disconnect socket as in claim 6 wherein said seam extends alongsaid plug and antisolder flow means is provided in said socket adjacentsaid one end of said body so as to prevent molten solder from flowingfrom the interior of the solder plug into the interior of the body.

8. A disconnect socket as in claim 7 wherein said antisolder flow meanscomprises a cylindrical plastic insert held in said solder plug by anannular compression seal.

9. A blanked strip-metal part adapted to be formed into a disconnectsocket, said part comprising a number of spaced parallel strips, bandsjoining said strips at the ends thereof, means for forming an electricalcontact on the side of one band away from said strips, and a finger onthe outer edge of each outer strip extending away from said strip, saidfingers being spaced at different longitudinal locations along the outerstrips.

10. A blanked strip-metal part as in claim 9 wherein said meanscomprises a generally trapezoidal portion of said strip with the majorbase joining said one strip.

11. A blanked strip-metal part as in claim 10 wherein the minor base ofsaid strip portion comprises two convex arcs.

12. A disconnect socket comprising an elongate hollow body including twocontact strips extending along the body and contact means oining saidstrips for forming an electrical connection with a circuit element, anda finger projecting from one edge of each strip across the openingbetween the strips and into spaced overlapping proximity with theoutside of the other strip, the fingers being spaced apart along theopening between the strips.

1. A disconnect socket comprising an elongate hollow socket body havinga longitudinally extending seam on one side thereof, a pair of fingersspaced along the seam, each finger extending from said body at one sideof the seam, past the seam and into spaced overlapping proximity withthe outer surface of the body at the opposite side of the seam, a leadcontact on the inner surface of the body at each side of the seamadjacent the fingers, and electrical contact means on one end of saidbody, whereby the fingers limit opening of the seam upon insertion of alead into the socket for engagement with said lead contacts.
 2. Adisconnect socket as in claim 1 including a funnel-type lead-in at theother end of said body and wherein said electrical contact meanscomprises a circuit board solder plug.
 3. A disconnect socket as inclaim 1 wherein said body is triangular in cross section andlongitudinal slits extend along two corners of the body, said seamextending along the third corner of the body, and the portions of saidbody at the ends of said slits join together portions of the body at thesides of said slits.
 4. A disconnect socket comprising an elongatehollow body of generally triangular cross section having a seamextending along one corner thereof, the body including a pair of spacedcircumferential collars and a strip at each side of the seam extendingbetween said collars, said strips each including a lead engaging contacton the side thereof facing the interior of the body, a finger projectingfrom tHe edge of each of said strips adjacent said seam and past theseam and into spaced overlapping proximity with the outer side of thestrip across said seam, and electrical contact means for forming anelectrical connection between said socket and a circuit element.
 5. Adisconnect socket as in claim 4 wherein all of said strips are generallyflat and slots extend along the corners to either side of the stripopposite the seam.
 6. A disconnect socket as in claim 5 wherein saidelectrical contact means comprises a solder plug at one end of saidbody.
 7. A disconnect socket as in claim 6 wherein said seam extendsalong said plug and antisolder flow means is provided in said socketadjacent said one end of said body so as to prevent molten solder fromflowing from the interior of the solder plug into the interior of thebody.
 8. A disconnect socket as in claim 7 wherein said antisolder flowmeans comprises a cylindrical plastic insert held in said solder plug byan annular compression seal.
 9. A blanked strip-metal part adapted to beformed into a disconnect socket, said part comprising a number of spacedparallel strips, bands joining said strips at the ends thereof, meansfor forming an electrical contact on the side of one band away from saidstrips, and a finger on the outer edge of each outer strip extendingaway from said strip, said fingers being spaced at differentlongitudinal locations along the outer strips.
 10. A blanked strip-metalpart as in claim 9 wherein said means comprises a generally trapezoidalportion of said strip with the major base joining said one strip.
 11. Ablanked strip-metal part as in claim 10 wherein the minor base of saidstrip portion comprises two convex arcs.
 12. A disconnect socketcomprising an elongate hollow body including two contact stripsextending along the body and contact means joining said strips forforming an electrical connection with a circuit element, and a fingerprojecting from one edge of each strip across the opening between thestrips and into spaced overlapping proximity with the outside of theother strip, the fingers being spaced apart along the opening betweenthe strips.